HAND MASSAGE AFTER ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME

EFFECT of HAND MASSAGE on PATIENTS AFTER ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME on the COMFORT and ANXIETY LEVEL

Patients suffering from Acute coronary syndrome may be hospitalized again in a shorter time than expected, and after being discharged, they may live within the limitations imposed by the disease until the end of their lives. This situation causes anxiety in individuals. Today, various methods are used to reduce high levels of anxiety. Massage is the planned and purposeful application of touch and is the most common, most important and oldest complementary treatment used in traditional practices. It is also thought that the comfort levels of individuals experiencing ACS will increase by reducing their anxiety. This study was planned to determine the effect of hand massage applied to patients with ACS on comfort, anxiety level and vital signs.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients experiencing Acute Coronary Syndrome for the first time,
• Anxiety score of 16 and above (moderate and severe anxiety)
• 18 years and above,
• No psychiatric disease,
• Patients who do not have communication problems and are competent to answer all questions,

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with uncontrolled Diabetes mellitus
• Patients who cannot communicate and have confusion,
• Those who have any limb, vascular problem or wound that prevents hand massage,
• Thrombophlebitis, occlusive arterial disease, fever etc. Those for whom massage therapy is inconvenient due to illness,